Jim,
I've been meaning to send you a message, and now that you're in my old neck of the woods, I couldn't wait any longer! I've really enjoyed reading your posts. Sounds like you're enjoying Illinois. It's a beautiful time of the year to be there, if you can avoid the thunderstorms. The day of my fateful ride, I waited out a doozy in a barn in Flag Center outside Rochelle. As you no doubt know, you don't want to mess with those good ol' Midwestern thunderstorms, just pull over and enjoy the light show! It's hard to believe that June 2 will be a year since my fateful ride. It seems like another era and another planet.
I also wanted to offer my personal thanks for doing this ride. I sure wish I could be there with you. I'm even envious of all the riding in the rain you've had to do! I doubt if you're going through Dixon, but if you are, let me know, I'm sure my Mom and Dad will be willing to put you up (and put up with you!) Pretty soon you'll be at the Mississippi, and you can look at a map of the United States and easily see just how far you've come. That must be one heck of a sense of accomplishment!
Anyway, keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight. Lisa and I will be sending good thoughts your way. And watch out for those Illinois drivers!
Regards from your friend,
Andrew Heckman,
aheckman@bellwethercomm.net
Hold the presses!!! We just have learned that Prince H. Lawsha (http://PrinceLawsha.com) will be appearing with Paul Contos and Thai Fitzpatrick (16 yr old violinist) at our second annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest on August 17 http://nbg.bikeroute.com/Events/Festival . With playing for our National Bicycle Greenway being his only US appearance, each year the Prince always leaves us with the feeling of having heard a master deliver pure music from the innermost depths of his heart -- I can't wait to hear what he will be doing time. I'll get back to everybody later with more info as I get it!
Spoke with Jim Redd tonite at his restaurant, the Handelbar, in downtown Chicago. He broke away from the dinner he was sharing with our next relay team, the brothers Reser and Jim Muellner, that is biking next to Des Moines. He told me that tomorrow's reception at City Hall in Chicago will feature Ben Gomberg, the City of Chicago Bicycle Coordinator, and Randy Neufeld, the Exec. Director of the powerful Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Also present will be the Chicago bike ambassadors, a team of representatives from the Mayor's office that bring the bicycle message to Chicagoans across the city.
Should be a lot of fun!
Jim Wetherell (http://inevergiveup.org) our lead San Jose to Santa Cruz Mayors' Ride Rider at http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide won first place in the recumbent bike division of the Concourse d'Elegance at the Great Western Bike Rally. His victory over this last Memorial Weekend in Paso Robles, CA, was for a modified Penninger Voyager that featured a pump activated air conditioner and other modifications.
And right behind him, in 2nd place, was NBG Director and NationalBicycleGreenway.com (if you haven't seen it yet, be prepared to see Big Power in action) web developer in chief, Jody Fitch. Jody's offering was his super sano, stock HP Veloteknik two wheeler!!
What's more is that Jim tells us that he will fire up the SF Bay Area bike clubs for his ride down the SF Peninsula that Kern Trembath is helping him with as well as the Peninsula Parkinson's support group that will also be at our 2nd Annuall Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest on August 17 at http://nbg.bikeroute.com/Events/Festival .
Yahoooo!!
Forest Ridgeway, owner of Bike World, and a TransAm vet himself, tells us that he wants to get the Des Moines cyclists out in force for our June 6 arrival there. When I told him the Pittsburgh and Columbus numbers, he said that he'd try to get his guy to do better! Joining Jim Muellner and the brothers Reser (Jason and Jeff), biking from Chicago, will be Jeff Longtin and Peter Borgen who are coming in from St Paul MN...
Just also spoke with Lorna Davros and she tells me that Mayor Preston Daniels will be on hand at noon to present our riders the Des Moines National Bicycle Greenway Day Proclamation!!